Disinfecting Solution Wipes

ABSTRACT

This present invention relates to a pre-packaged set of disinfecting solution wipes used to prevent urinary tract and other infections, and reduce to bacterial growth. The wet wipes are stored in packages until needed, and are infused with a novel water and vinegar solution. The wipes can be applied multiple times a day to help eliminate odors, soothe skin, and reduce bacteria growth by neutralizing the pH of the user&#39;s skin. The wipes may also be used as a temporary bathing solution for those without immediate access to a shower or bathroom. The containers of the present invention are reusable, and feature a sealed lid to prevent the wet wipes from prematurely drying out.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S.Provisional Application No. 63/022,087, which was filed on May 8, 2020and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to the field of wet or sanitarydisinfecting wipes. More specifically, the present invention relates toa pre-packaged set of wet or sanitary wipes used to prevent urinarytract infections (UTI), and to reduce other bacterial growth. Theindividual wet wipe of the present invention utilizes a specialdisinfecting solution comprised of water and vinegar that helps toneutralize the pH of the skin, and thereby reduce bacteria growth. Thewipe of the present invention can be applied multiple times a day to theperineum and the skin to help eliminate odors, soothe the skin, andreduce bacteria growth, and also functions as an effective cleaning toolfor a user without immediate access to a bath, bidet or shower. The wetwipes are stored in packages or containers of various sizes untilneeded, and are infused with the unique water and vinegar solution. Thecontainers are reusable and feature a sealed and resealable lid toprevent the wipes from drying out prior to usage. Accordingly, thisdisclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to beappreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equallyapplicable to other like applications, devices and methods ofmanufacture.

By way of background, pathogenic bacteria such as Shigella,Campylobacter, Staphylococcus, and particularly Streptococcus,Escherichia, Salmonella, and Escherichia can colonize on skin or otherepithelial tissue. Pathogenic bacteria can also result in any of avariety of infections such as dermatitis, diaper rash, and impetigo,commonly caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcusaureus, to which elderly, infants and pre-school children areparticularly susceptible.

Other pathogenic conditions include urinary tract infections commonlysuffered by females. For example, E. coli can be pathogenic, and is alsoresponsible for various types of infections in humans, such as urinarytract infections. E. coli can colonize from the feces or perineal regionif not properly and routinely cleaned, and ascend the urinary tract tothe bladder, thereby causing infection and irritation. Likewise, P.aeruginosa is resistant to many antibiotics, and may infect almost anytype of compromised tissue, and can cause a variety of infections,including urinary tract infections.

Stated differently, urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria,which may enter the bladder by traveling up the individual's urethra. Ingeneral, the urethra is somewhat naturally protected by its structure,but if the opening of the urethra (or the vulva in girls) becomesirritated, bacteria can grow there. Further, delaying going to thebathroom makes it more likely that an individual will contract a urinarytract infection, and sexual intercourse or careless wiping after a bowelmovement might also cause irritation and potentially infection.

Urinary tract infections may also reoccur if not properly and thoroughlytreated and if proper precautions are not taken. Additionally, otherinfections can also occur due to poor hygiene, bacterial growth, and theuse of an inadequate cleaning solution. For example, urinary tractinfections and wound re-infections can occur from yeast overgrowthcaused by poor hygiene methods. Generally, individuals need immediateand periodic access to a shower or other cleansing opportunities tomaintain hygiene, which is time consuming, not always possible andtiring for the individual, especially when the individual is not athome. Further, to date, existing skin cleaning products, such as wetwipes and dry wipes, have primarily cleaned the surface of the skin, buthave not yet proven to be particularly effective against potentiallyharmful pathogens. Also, currently used antibacterial agents such asisopropyl alcohol, various surfactants and other antibacterial agents,are unacceptably harsh, drying and/or irritating to the skin and mucousmembranes. Other antibacterial agents may be insufficiently effective atlower levels of concentration that are deemed safer for use with skin,and tend to leave a residue.

Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a sanitary anddisinfecting wet wipe product that can be used as a temporary bathing orcleaning method for people without immediate access to a shower or otherfacility to cleanse oneself. There is also a long felt need in the artfor a disinfecting solution wipe for reducing bacterial growth andurinary tract infection risk. Additionally, there is a long felt need inthe art for a disinfecting solution wipe that can be applied multipletimes a day to the perineum and skin to help eliminate odors, sootheskin, and reduce bacteria growth by neutralizing the pH of the skinwithout causing undue irritation. Moreover, there is a long felt need inthe art for a disinfecting solution wipe which provides immediatedisinfection, and eliminates the need for repeated showering in order toprevent infections and illnesses. Further, there is a long felt need inthe art for a wet wipe product that utilizes a special disinfectingsolution that is capable of preventing urinary tract infections and thatdoes not cause undue irritation to the user's skin. Finally, there is along felt need in the art for a sanitary wet wipe that may be stored in,and dispensed from, containers of various sizes without prematurelydrying out, and that is infused with a unique water and mild vinegarsolution.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodimentthereof, comprises a supply of disinfecting solution wipes stacked in acontainer for ease of removal, or a dispenser having a top surface, anenclosure on the top surface having a cover member that can be opened tocreate a dispensing opening for individual removal of the wet wipe,wherein the individual wet wipes are infused with a unique water andvinegar solution that reduces the potential for bacteria growth byneutralizing the pH of the user's skin. The invention also offers anovel and effective sanitary wet wipe composition that prevents urinarytract infections, and reduces bacteria growth.

The disinfecting solution of the present invention provides a sanitizingcomposition which may be comprised essentially of natural ingredients.The essential components of the disinfecting solution are water andvinegar. More specifically, distilled white vinegar generally containsbetween 4-7% acetic acid, and 93-96% water by weight. However, sometypes of white vinegar can contain up to 20% acetic acid. Urinary tractinfections tend to grow and exist in non-acidic environments. Vinegars,such as white vinegar, rice vinegar, or apple cider vinegar marketedunder the BRAGG® brand, and acidic which helps to balance pH levels andprevent urinary tract infections. The concentration of vinegar in thewet wipe of the present invention is such that it does not causeirritation to the skin.

Research has also shown that the acetic acid in vinegar can reduce thegrowth of E. coli, S. aureus (aka staph), and C. albican (Candida).Bacteria do not thrive in an acidic environment, and vinegar could helpprevent bacteria growth, thus preventing urinary tract and other typesof infections. Thus, the disinfecting solution used with the sanitarywipes of the present invention preferably range from 4 to 20% aceticacid in solution, by weight.

In this manner, the novel disinfecting solution wipe of the presentinvention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives, and provides arelatively safe, easy, convenient and cost-effective solution to using awipe to cleanse oneself and prevent urinary tract and other types ofinfections. The disinfecting solution wipes of the present invention arealso user friendly, inasmuch as they are less expensive than theiralternatives, and do not require the user to put much effort or laborinto eliminating odors, soothing the skin, and reducing bacteria growthwithout causing significant irritation to the skin.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basicunderstanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summaryis not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identifykey/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its solepurpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

As used herein, the term “wet wipe” or “sanitary wet wipe” refers to afibrous, paper, woven or non-woven, cloth sheet that has the uniquesolution of water and vinegar, such as apple cider vinegar or distilledwhite vinegar, applied to the entire roll or stack of sanitary wipesduring manufacture or prior to dispensing. The amount of solutioncontained within each sanitary wet wipe can vary depending upon the typeof material being used to provide the wet wipe, the type of containerbeing used to store the wet wipes, and the desired end use of the wetwipe. In addition, the user may prefer a solution which is organicallysourced, or environmentally sustainable. Generally speaking, it isanticipated that for most applications and wipe substrate used, each wetwipe can contain from about 25 to about 500 percent of the disinfectingsolution or, more preferably, from about 200 to about 500 weight percentof the disinfecting solution, based on the dry weight of the wipe. In afurther preferred embodiment of the present invention, the disinfectingsolution may also comprise a fragrance, scent, cleaning agent,sanitizing agent, and/or an emollient, such as an aloe, lanolin or othersoothing solution.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodimentthereof, comprises a unique disinfecting solution for use with asanitary wet wipe product which is stacked, interfolded or integrallyinterconnected in a container or a dispenser having a top surface, anenclosure on the top surface having a sealed lid that can be opened tocreate an opening for individual removal of the wet wipe. The individualwet wipes are infused with a water and vinegar solution that reducesbacteria growth by neutralizing the pH of the user's skin. The inventionoffers a novel and effective sanitary wet wipe composition that preventsurinary tract and other infections, and reduces the potential forbacteria growth. Further, the container is reusable and features aresealable lid to prevent the wipes from drying out.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a preservativesolution for impregnating a wet wipe product to prevent urinary tractand other infections is disclosed and comprises water and white or applecider vinegar. As previously stated, unitary tract infections grow andexist in non-acidic environments. Vinegar, such as white and apple cidervinegar, is acidic, which helps balance pH levels and prevent urinarytract infections. Nonetheless, the concentration of vinegar in the wetwipe of the present invention is such that it does not cause undueirritation to the skin. The pH of the preservative solution in which thesanitary wet wipes are infused is preferably below about 3-5 pH. Such alow pH is relatively non-irritating to the skin, and helps in balancingthe pH levels of the user and to prevent urinary tract and other typesof infections from occurring. In another embodiment, the effectiveaqueous solution of the present invention has a pH of about 6.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a sanitary wet wipeproduct specifically used for reducing bacterial growth and urinarytract infection risk is disclosed and comprises a fibrous and poroussheet, wherein the sheet is infused with an aqueous solution comprisingvinegar, water and a fragrance. The pH of the solution in which thesanitary wet wipe is infused is preferably below a pH level of 3.5-5.Such a low pH is relatively non-irritating to the user's skin, and helpsin balancing the pH levels of the user's skin and to prevent urinarytract and other similar infections.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a method for producinga wet wipe product for reducing bacterial growth and urinary tractinfection risk is disclosed and the method comprises forming a fibrousand porous wipe, and then preparing an aqueous solution. Next, a vinegarsolution is added to the aqueous solution and the individual wipes areinfused with the solution, and then packaged in a stacked or rolledmanner in a container or a dispenser for single use or dispensing.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of using awet wipe of the present invention is disclosed to wipe bacteria andother excrement away from the urinary area and towards the rectum toprevent the possibility of a urinary tract infection and, in a similarway, to wipe over a wound to prevent infection or contamination. Thesteps of the method comprise initially acquiring a wet wipe impregnatedwith the unique solution of the present invention from a plurality ofstacked wipes disposed within a container having an opening with asealed lid, thereby creating a dispensing opening. The unique solutionis preferably comprised of water, white or apple cider vinegar, and afragrance, but may also include a cleaning agent, sanitizing agent,and/or an emollient. More specifically, each wet wipe can contain fromabout 25 to about 500 percent of the disinfecting solution, based on thedry weight of the wipe, wherein the pH of the solution is preferablybelow 3.5-5. Next, an individual wet wipe is removed from the containeropening, and the desired portion of the body and skin is wiped to reducebacterial growth and urinary tract infection risk.

In a still further embodiment of the presently described invention, analcohol free sanitary wipe is described and includes a non-wovenmaterial, wherein the non-woven material is provided in substantiallyequal lengths to form individual wipes. Each of the individual wipes issubstantially equal in both length and width. An alcohol free solutionincluding at least water and vinegar is used to infuse the individualwipes, and the amount of weight of the solution used for each wipe isapproximately 70 to about 500 percent of the dry weight of theindividual wipe.

In yet a further embodiment of the presently described invention, acombination dispensing container and sanitary wipe supply is describedand includes a dispensing container having an interior area and anopening covered by a movable closure. A supply of material is providedwith, wherein the supply of material is divided into a number of equalsized sanitary wipes, with each of the wipes being separable from oneanother. Each of the wipes is infused with a novel disinfectingsolution, and is removable from the dispensing container through theopening. The novel disinfecting solution is comprised of a combinationof water and vinegar, wherein the vinegar has a percentage of aceticacid of not more than 20 percent by weight of the vinegar in thesolution.

In yet still a further embodiment of the presently described invention,a method of using a combination dispensing container and sanitary wipesupply is described. The method comprises the steps of initiallyproviding a container that has an enclosed area and an opening coveredby a movable closure. Next, a sanitary wipe supply is inserted into thecontainer and the supply is infused with the novel sanitary solution ofthe present invention. More specifically, the sanitary solution isalcohol free and is comprised of both water and vinegar. The sanitarywipe supply is separated into individual wipes. Next, the movableclosure is opened so that at least one of the individual wipes isremoved from the container. Then the container is resealed by closingthe movable closure, and the removed individual wipe is used.

The wipes of the present invention are particularly advantageous becausethe wipes can be used and applied multiple times a day to the perineumand skin to help eliminate odors, soothe skin, and reduce the potentialfor bacteria growth by neutralizing the pH of the user's skin. The wipesof the present invention also function as a cleaning tool forindividuals without immediate access to a shower, do not irritate theskin, and resemble and function similar to conventional wipes, albeitwithout the benefits of the unique disinfecting solution.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certainillustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein inconnection with the following description and the annexed drawings.These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various waysin which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and areintended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Otheradvantages and novel features will become apparent from the followingdetailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and inwhich:

FIG. 1a illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of acontainer of the disinfecting solution wipes of the present invention inaccordance with the disclosed architecture and in a closed condition;

FIG. 1b illustrates a perspective view of the container of thedisinfecting solution wipes of FIG. 1a in an open condition, and with atleast one wipe extending outwardly therefrom;

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of one possiblecombination of the ingredients of the novel disinfecting solution foruse with the disinfecting solution wipes of the present invention inaccordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 3a illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of anindividual wet wipe impregnated with the disinfecting solution of thepresent invention in accordance with the disclosed structure;

FIG. 3b illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of anindividual wet wipe impregnated with the disinfecting solution of thepresent invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of one potentialembodiment of a method of using the disinfecting solution wipe of thepresent invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of awall mounted dispensing mechanism for dispensing a roll of thedisinfecting solution wipes of the present invention in accordance withthe disclosed architecture; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of anupright and cylindrical container for storing the disinfecting solutionwipes of the present invention in accordance with the disclosedarchitecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, whereinlike reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout.In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovationcan be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form inorder to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments arediscussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are describedonly to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are notintended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limitthe scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment neednot have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in otherembodiments, any of the features described herein from differentembodiments may be combined.

As noted above, there is a long felt need in the art for a sanitary anddisinfecting wet wipe that can be used as a temporary bathing orcleaning method for people without immediate access to a shower or otherfacility to cleanse themselves, and for reducing bacterial growth andthe risk of urinary tract and other types of infection. Additionally,there is a long felt need in the art for a disinfecting solution wipethat can be used to help eliminate odors, soothe skin, and reducebacteria growth by neutralizing the pH of the user's skin withoutirritating the same. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art fora disinfecting solution wipe impregnated with a special disinfectingsolution comprised of water, vinegar and a fragrance. Finally, there isa long felt need in the art for a sanitary wet wipe that may be storedin, and dispensed from, containers of various sizes without prematurelydrying out, and that is infused with a unique water and mild vinegarsolution.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a noveldisinfecting solution for use with a sanitary wet wipe. Morespecifically, the individual wet wipes are infused with a solution ofwater and vinegar that reduces the potential for bacteria growth byneutralizing the pH of the user's skin. The solution may furthercomprise a fragrance or other essential oils which may aid in calmingthe irritated skin. The infused or impregnated wipes may be stacked inan interfolded or z-folded manner, or integrally interconnected in acontinuous roll, and dispensed from a container or dispenser having atop surface, an enclosure on the top surface having a sealed lid thatcan be opened to create an opening for individual removal of theindividual wet wipes. Further, the container is reusable and features asealed lid to prevent the wipes from prematurely drying out before use.The invention offers a novel and effective wet wipe composition thathelps to prevent urinary tract and other infections, as well as aidingin the reduction or prevention of bacteria growth.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. la illustrates a perspectiveview of one potential embodiment of a container 100 of the disinfectingsolution wipes 102 of the present invention in a closed condition, andFIG. lb illustrates a perspective view of the container 100 of thedisinfecting solution wipes in an open condition, and with at least onewipe 102 extending outwardly therefrom. In this particular embodiment,the container 100 is a generally cuboidal shaped box that has a bodygenerally made up of durable and flexible plastic-based packagingmaterial, such as poly bags and the like. The packaging may also be madefrom a paperboard material with a wax or poly coating to help keep thewet wipes 102 contained therein moist until needed. The packagingmaterial for the container 100 forms a complete package for the wetwipes 102 infused with a novel aqueous solution, as described more fullybelow.

The container 100 has a top surface 108, a bottom surface 112 on whichthe container rests on a surface, and an enclosure 110 having a sealedlid 104 which is pivotally hinged on an edge 114. The sealed lid 104 isat least sufficiently sealed to prevent spoilage or drying out of thewet wipes 102 stored within the container 100. The wet wipes 102 may bestacked, interfolded, z-folded or integrally interconnected within thecontainer 100, such that they may be dispensed one at a time. As bestshown in FIG. lb, once the sealed lid 104 is opened along the hingededge 114, a dispensing opening 106 is created through which a user cantake out an individual wipe 102 from the stacked wipes container 100.The wet wipes 102 are retained in position thereby, when the lid 104 isclosed. In an additional embodiment, the sealed lid 104 may have alocking tab or other fastening mechanism (e.g. adhesive closure, hookand loop closure, male and female tabs or the like) to lock or securelyclose the lid 104 to the enclosure 110.

The lid 104 may be permanently or removably attached to the enclosure110 of the container 100, which allows the container 100 to be refilledwith wipes 102, thereby making it reusable and extending its usefullife. There are many alternative means for attaching the lid 104 to theenclosure 110. For example, the lid 104 may be manufactured with one ormore ridges that can be snap-fitted into the receiving grooves in theenclosure 110. Alternatively, the lid 104 may be designed so that it canbe friction-fitted to the enclosure 110, or may have a channel and railtype closure.

The container 100 may be of any suitable shape and size, including butnot limited to, rectangular, cubic, pyramidal, cylindrical, spherical,or any other shape that allows a stack or roll of wet wipes 102 to bestored therein until needed. In addition, the container 100 may take ona promotional shape to coincide with a marketing or entertainment event.Although the container 100 is generally made of plastic material such aspolyethylene, in other embodiments, the container 100 may be made of anyother suitable material, such as cellulosic, cotton fibers, recyclednatural fibers or fabric products. Suitable materials may includeflexible materials. The containers shown in the figures and describedthe embodiments are not limited to any particular size or shape.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of one possiblecombination of the ingredients of the novel disinfecting solution 200for use with the disinfecting solution wipes 102 of the presentinvention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. Morespecifically, each of the wipes 102 is infused or impregnated with thedisinfecting solution 200 that relies primarily on a mixture of waterand vinegar to help prevent urinary tract and other types of infections.By way of background and as mentioned above, vinegar contains aceticacid that is useful for balancing or neutralizing the pH of the user'sskin. In one embodiment, the vinegar may be a distilled white vinegarhaving a pH of approximately 2.5, or an apple cider vinegar having a pHof approximately 2.3. Nonetheless, in alternate embodiments, the vinegarused for the solution 200 may be a wine vinegar, a cane vinegar, a fruitvinegar (e.g. apple, etc.), a palm vinegar, a balsamic vinegar or agrain vinegar. Further, an amount of water can be added to dilute thevinegar and maintain a balanced or desired pH level.

The preferred composition of the solution 200 is comprised of about 88%water and about 12% vinegar, by weight. In an alternate embodiment, thesolution 200 is comprised of about 60-75% water and about 15-35%vinegar, by weight. In a further alternate embodiment, the solution 200is comprised of about 90-98% distilled water and about 5-10% vinegar, byweight. Alternatively, the vinegar used in the solution 200 may have acomposition of 1:1 distilled white vinegar and apple cider vinegar alongwith water in any of the above percentages. As a further alternative,the vinegar used in the solution 200 may have a composition of 1:2distilled white vinegar and apple cider vinegar along with water.

The acetic acid in the vinegar reduces the growth of E. coli, S. aureus(aka staph), C. albican (Candida) and other bacteria which result inapproximately 90% of urinary tract infections. More specifically,bacteria do not tend to thrive in an acidic environment, and the vinegarinclusive aqueous solution 200 of the present invention helps preventbacteria, mold, and/or yeast growth. Other optional ingredients may beadded such as a fragrance, essential oils (e.g., oils extracted fromplants), or nature oils to help soothe or calm the region being treated.The solution 200 of the present invention is also alcohol free so as notto dry or irritate the skin. In alternate embodiment, the solution 200may additionally comprise an emollient. Emollients hydrate and protectthe user's skin from irritation as the emollient is deposited onto theskin and remains at its surface as a thin protective layer, and providesa desired sensory feel to the skin.

As previously stated, the solution 200 is incorporated into theindividual wipes 102 as an aqueous liquid. The amount or weight of thesolution 200 that is added to and retained by each wipe 102 can be fromabout 70 to about 700 percent of the dry weight of the wipe, and morespecifically from about 200 to about 500 percent, and still morespecifically from about 200 to about 400 percent.

FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate perspective views of potential embodiments ofindividual wet wipes 102 impregnated with the disinfecting solution 200of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure.More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3a , each wet wipe 102 is generallyrectangular or square in shape, and may have any desired unfolded widthand length. For example, the wet wipe 102 may have an unfolded length1020 of from about two inches to about nine inches, and an unfoldedwidth 1022 of from about two inches to about six inches. The wipes 102may further comprise logos 120, indicia, trademarks, geometric patterns,customizable colors and fonts, embroidery and prints and/or other imageson their surface.

Alternatively, as best shown in FIG. 3b , each wet wipe 102 may begenerally circular or oval in shape, and may have any desired unfoldeddiameter 1024. For example, the circular wet wipe 102 may have anunfolded diameter 1024 of from about two inches to about six inches.Alternatively, the wet wipes 102 may include a continuous strip ofmaterial which has perforations between each wipe 102, and which may bearranged in a stack or rolled into a roll for easy dispensing.Nonetheless, the shape and dimensions of the wet wipe 102 are not solimited, and can be of any shape, size or configuration that is suitableto the needs of the user.

The wipes 102 are preferably made from a non-woven fabric and morepreferably from a polyester material, such as polyethylene, PET orpolypropylene. In addition to the polyester or polypropylene materialsreferenced above, each individual wet wipe 102 may be made from avariety of materials including coform materials, air-laid materials,hydroentangled materials, spunbond materials, meltblown materials, andthe like. The wipe 102 has fibrous materials which provide an improvedappearance and feel to the wet wipe 102. Natural fibers, such ascellulosic fibers are preferably used in the present invention.Nonetheless, thermoplastic polymeric fibers, such as polyolefins mayalso be used in the present invention. Alternatively, synthetic fibers,such as staple nylon and rayon fibers may also be used to construct thewipes 102.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of one potentialembodiment of a method 400 of using the disinfecting solution wipes 102of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.More specifically, the method 400 includes an initial step 401 ofopening a sealed lid 104 of the container 100 to obtain a wipe 102. Atstep 402, the user acquires an individual wet wipe 102 from an opening106 of a container 100 containing a stack of wet wipes, wherein the wipe102 is infused with a novel water and vinegar solution 200 as describedherein. At step 403, the removed wipe 102 may be used to wipe theurinary area of a user in the direction of the rectum to avoid spreadingbacteria from the rectal area to the urethra. Lastly, at step 404, theused wipe 102 is properly disposed of.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of awall mounted dispensing mechanism 502 for dispensing a roll of thedisinfecting solution wipes 102 of the present invention in accordancewith the disclosed architecture, wherein the wet wipes 102 are infusedwith the water and vinegar solution 200 of the present invention. Morespecifically, the dispenser 502 may be generally cylindrical in shapeand have a mounting plate (not shown) for mounting the dispenser 502 toa wall by mechanical fastening means, such as screws, bolts, pins, tabsand/or grooves. The dispenser 502 houses the wipes 102 until needed, andprevents the same from prematurely drying out. The wipes 102 themselvesmay be comprised of a woven or nonwoven material as elsewhere describedherein, and the first wipe 102 from the roll of wet wipes located in thedispenser 502 may be pulled from outside of the roll. Stateddifferently, the roll of wipes 102 may unwind from the outside of theroll to the inside of the roll. The roll of wipes 102 may unwind ineither a clockwise or counterclockwise manner.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of anupright and cylindrical container 600 for storing the disinfectingsolution wipes 102 of the present invention in accordance with thedisclosed architecture. More specifically, container 600 may be anupright container for storing the wet wipes 102 in a rolled manner,wherein the wipes 102 have been infused or impregnated with a noveldisinfecting solution 200 comprised of both water and vinegar asexplained elsewhere herein. A dispensing opening 606 is created byopening the lip/flap 608, which is secured to the container 600 througha fastening means 610, such as a button, hinge, Velcro®, adhesiveclosures and the like, on the top portion 604 of the container 600. Oncethe lip 608 is opened, an individual wet wipe 102 may be removed foruse. The top portion 604 may also be removed to replenish the container600 with a new supply of wet wipes 102, thereby making the container 600reusable and lessening the waste stream.

The wet wipes 102 may be made available in different sizes and colors toaccommodate user need and/or preference, and the exact size,measurement, construction and design specifications of the unique wipe102 of the present invention may vary upon manufacturing or theparticular material that is used. The surface of the wipe 102 ispreferably flat, but may optionally contain raised and/or loweredportions creating patterns, such as an undulating pattern 122 which mayhelp aid in a cleaning process. As previously stated, the wipes 102 mayfurther comprise logos, indicia, trademarks, geometric patterns,customizable colors and fonts, embroidery and prints and/or images 120on its surface. Further, the wet wipes 102 may be scented to havedifferent fragrance as per the requirements of different users.

As previously stated, the wet wipes 102 are preferably arranged in thedispensers described above, or any other dispenser and in any othermanner which provides easy and reliable one at a time dispensing andthat prevents the wipes 102 from becoming dirty, contaminated and/ordry. As an example, the wipes 102 can be arranged in the container as aplurality of individual wipes arranged in a stacked configuration toprovide a stack of wipes which may or may not be individually folded.Alternatively, the wipes may be individual wipes which are folded in ac-fold, z-fold, quarter fold or other zigzag fold, interfolded ornon-interfolded configurations as are known to those skilled in the art.The plurality of wipes 102 may also be stacked one on top of each otherin a non-interfolded configuration, for “reach-in” dispensing. For anon-interfolded wipe configuration, each wipe is folded onto itself withno portion of another adjacent wipe being positioned between orunderneath any portion of the folds of the adjacent wipe(s).

The container as per the present invention can include any suitablenumber of individual wipes depending upon the desired packaging and enduse. For example, the container can be configured to include a stackand/or roll of wipes which can include at least about 20 wipes anddesirably from about 15 to about 320 individual wipes, and moredesirably from about 20 to about 80 wipes. The size and shape of thecontainer is dependent upon the size and shape of the stack of wipes andvice versa. The container used to house the wet wipes 102 of the presentinvention may include, but are not limited to, flow wrap pouches,individual sachets, chained sachets comprising a tear line between eachsachet, and other forms known in the art as suitable for storingnonwoven articles.

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claimsto refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the artwill appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature orcomponent by different names. This document does not intend todistinguish between components or features that differ in name but notstructure or function. As used herein “solution wipes”, “solution wetwipes”, “disinfecting wipes”, “wet wipes”, and “wet wipes withcontainer” are interchangeable and refer to the portable wet wipes 102with a container product 100 of the present invention.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the wet wipes 102 and container 100 of thepresent invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as isknown in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention,provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configurationand material of the wet wipes 102 within container 100 as shown in theFIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes andshapes of the wet wipes 102 within container 100 are well within thescope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the wetwipes 102 and the container 100 are important design parameters for userconvenience, the wet wipes 102 and the container 100 may be of any sizethat ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user'sneeds and/or preferences.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplaryembodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. While the embodiments described above refer to particularfeatures, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments havingdifferent combinations of features and embodiments that do not includeall of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the presentinvention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications,and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with allequivalents thereof

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subjectmatter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivablecombination of components or methodologies for purposes of describingthe claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art mayrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimedsubject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter isintended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variationsthat fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in eitherthe detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to beinclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising”is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. An alcohol free supply of wipes comprising: anon-woven material comprised of a plurality of individual wipes, whereineach of the plurality of individual wipes are equal in length and width;and an alcohol free solution comprising a water and a vinegar, whereineach of the plurality of individual wipes is infused with the alcoholfree solution, and further wherein the alcohol free solution containedin each of the plurality of individual wipes is between 70 and 700percent of a dry weight of each of the plurality of individual wipes. 2.The alcohol free supply of wipes of claim 1, wherein the vinegar isselected from a group including a cane vinegar, a fruit vinegar, a ricevinegar, a palm vinegar, a balsamic vinegar and a grain vinegar.
 3. Thealcohol free supply of wipes of claim 1, wherein the alcohol freesolution comprises between 60-75% water and 15-35% vinegar, by weight.4. The alcohol free supply of wipes of claim 3, wherein the alcohol freesolution further comprises at least one of a fragrance, an emollient andan essential oil.
 5. The alcohol free supply of wipes of claim 4,wherein the emollient is selected from an aloe or a lanolin.
 6. Thealcohol free supply of wipes of claim 1, wherein the alcohol freesolution contained in each of the plurality of individual wipes isbetween 70 and 500 percent of the dry weight of each of the plurality ofindividual wipes.
 7. The alcohol free supply of wipes of claim 1,wherein the non-woven material is one of a polyester or a polypropylene.8. The alcohol free supply of wipes of claim 1, wherein the non-wovenmaterial is made from one of a cellulosic fiber, a cotton fiber, or arecycled natural fiber.
 9. The alcohol free supply of wipes of claim 1,wherein the non-woven material is provided in a dispensing container.10. The alcohol free supply of wipes of claim 1, wherein the non-wovenmaterial is provided with at least one of a logo, an indicia, atrademark, a geometric pattern, a color, a font, an embroidery, a printor an image.
 11. The alcohol free supply of wipes of claim 1, whereinthe water is a distilled water.
 12. The alcohol free supply of wipes ofclaim 1, wherein the non-woven material is provided with an undulatingpattern to aid in a cleaning process.
 13. A combination dispensingcontainer and sanitary wipe supply comprising: a dispensing containerhaving an interior area and an opening with the opening covered by amovable closure; a supply of material, the supply of material dividedinto a number of equal sized sanitary wipes, with each of the sanitarywipes being separable from one another; a disinfecting solutioncomprising a water and a vinegar, wherein the vinegar has a percentageof acetic acid of not more than 20 percent by weight of the vinegar inthe disinfecting solution; and each of the wipes is infused with thedisinfecting solution and removable from the dispensing containerthrough the opening.
 14. The combination dispensing container andsanitary wipe supply of claim 13, wherein the water is a distilledwater.
 15. The combination dispensing container and sanitary wipe supplyof claim 13, wherein the movable closure is selected from a groupincluding a locking tab, a mechanical fastening mechanism, an adhesiveclosure, a hook and loop closure, a set of male and female tabs, or arail and channel type closure.
 16. The combination dispensing containerand sanitary wipe supply of claim 13, wherein the vinegar is a distilledwhite vinegar containing between 4-7% of an acetic acid and 93-96% of awater by weight.
 17. The combination dispensing container and sanitarywipe supply of claim 13, wherein the disinfecting solution furthercomprises one of a fragrance or an emollient.
 18. The combinationdispensing container and sanitary wipe supply of claim 17, wherein theemollient is selected from an aloe or a lanolin.
 19. A method of using acombination dispensing container and a sanitary wipe supply comprisingthe steps of: providing a container having an enclosed area and anopening, wherein the opening is covered by a movable closure; infusingthe sanitary wipe supply with a sanitary solution, wherein the sanitarysolution is comprised of a water and a vinegar; inserting a sanitarywipe supply into the container, wherein the sanitary wipe supply isseparable into a plurality of individual wipes of equal width and equallength; opening the movable closure; removing at least one of theplurality of individual wipes from the container; resealing thecontainer by closing the movable closure; and using the at least one ofthe plurality of individual wipes.
 20. A method of using a combinationdispensing container and sanitary wipe supply of claim 19, wherein thesanitary solution includes one of a fragrance or an emollient.